Car and Driver doesn't like the Z4

Crimson92 · 05-05-2009, 11:36 AM

im not suprised the new z4 is a pig....hardtop verts are little tanks.

the motor is great and can be made very very fast...but once you ruin handling and steering...its hard to fix

MisterSkiMask · 05-05-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimson92

they didnt sell many z4ms because they didnt make many.

i disagree , the z4m feels very well put together by bmw...it may be a parts bin car but its solid, light, quick, and overall a fun car

They didn't sell many because they couldn't sell many, it is very much a niche product.

I didn’t say that is wasn’t well built, it is, I agree it is fun, quick, and fast, but it isn’t very polished. You can tell that they didn’t spend E46M3 levels of dollars developing it, because it’s a niche product that will not/did not make very many sales dollars for BMW.

Crimson92 · 05-05-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterSkiMask

They didn't sell many because they couldn't sell many, it is very much a niche product.

I didn’t say that is wasn’t well built, it is, I agree it is fun, quick, and fast, but it isn’t very polished. You can tell that they didn’t spend E46M3 levels of dollars developing it, because it’s a niche product that will not/did not make very many sales dollars for BMW.

i dont think they had to spend as much time developing this car imo....most of the parts came from the e46m3...an already well polished car.

if anything it was a vast improvement over the standard z4 and i dont just mean the motor

Red Bread · 05-05-2009, 12:02 PM

People who bemoan that the Boxster is picked over any BMW have clearly never driven a Boxster. BMW doesn't build great two seaters, they never have, they probably never will (I don't need a picture of the M1, it was built by Lamborghini and still wasn't a very special car). There's a little hope for the Z2, but I'm not holding my breath.

I do like that the Z3 and Z4 M cars were more raw than the Boxster/Cayman and generally require more skill to drive as quickly, when possible, but magazines tend to tell you which is the better car, and the Porsche's are better. The new, bigger, softer, heavier and cushier Z4 is not going to do well against a lighter, more powerful Boxster/Cayman that nearly every magazine liked more than the last M Z4's.

pmeloche · 05-05-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterSkiMask

IMO the Z4M is not twitchy because of the steering, it is the chassis. Steering feel was improved in the Z4M, but it is not as good as it should be. To me the Z4M feels underdeveloped, it is a parts bin car. BMW decided to make an M version, so they threw the parts on from the E46 M3, but it never translated quite right IMO. Not to say that is isn’t fast or fun, it is both, it just isn’t very polished.

Amen to that.

Too bad they did not do another iteration of the E86 Z4M.

pmeloche · 05-05-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimson92

they didnt sell many z4ms because they didnt make many.

They made as many as were ordered.

erio · 05-05-2009, 12:37 PM

I have driven the boxter as well. It was nice, but I could never get over the look of that car. I had the impression that the new z4 would at least trump it in terms of handling.

MisterSkiMask · 05-05-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erio

I have driven the boxter as well. It was nice, but I could never get over the look of that car. I had the impression that the new z4 would at least trump it in terms of handling.

No BMW Z-anything has ever trumped the Boxster interms of handling.

03BeastCharmer · 05-05-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

People who bemoan that the Boxster is picked over any BMW have clearly never driven a Boxster. BMW doesn't build great two seaters, they never have, they probably never will (I don't need a picture of the M1, it was built by Lamborghini and still wasn't a very special car). There's a little hope for the Z2, but I'm not holding my breath.

I do like that the Z3 and Z4 M cars were more raw than the Boxster/Cayman and generally require more skill to drive as quickly, when possible, but magazines tend to tell you which is the better car, and the Porsche's are better. The new, bigger, softer, heavier and cushier Z4 is not going to do well against a lighter, more powerful Boxster/Cayman that nearly every magazine liked more than the last M Z4's.

BMW isn't trying to compete with the Boxster with the new Z4. It's target is the softer, relaxed MB SLK. The new Z4 isn't going to be a track star, but a blvd looker.

Sad but true.

If you're a driving enthusiast, the Boxster is a better choice.

blue2fire · 05-05-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03BeastCharmer

BMW isn't trying to compete with the Boxster with the new Z4. It's target is the softer, relaxed MB SLK. The new Z4 isn't going to be a track star, but a blvd looker.

Sad but true.

If you're a driving enthusiast, the Boxster is a better choice.

Why did they make the 35 version so much more expensive that the SLK350 then? That is a lot of money for a car that isnt as good looking.

E82tt6 · 05-05-2009, 03:18 PM

Not surprised.

When BMW announced pricing, it was made clear they were going after the status symbol/fashion statement/hairdresser buyer, as no real enthusiast would buy a car with such terrible bang/buck.

erio · 05-09-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E82tt6

Not surprised.

When BMW announced pricing, it was made clear they were going after the status symbol/fashion statement/hairdresser buyer, as no real enthusiast would buy a car with such terrible bang/buck.

+1. I guess you are right on that one. 0.83g IS NOT acceptable...does not inspire confidence for any kind of spirited driving. That's worse than a FORD MUSTANG. This is smelling more like a show car/trophy wife car every time I get more data.

gonzo · 05-09-2009, 11:46 AM

Loved it when it was introduced.

No more.

JeepJeep · 05-09-2009, 04:15 PM

2 Woman designed it, and I think the target audience they had in mind was middle-aged men going through a mid-life crisis. They just want to show off a little by going fast in a straight line, but want soft and smooth and comfy at the same time.

mtla4 · 05-09-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyndon_h

trophy wife car FTW

LOL

darkphantom · 05-12-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slay0r

and ppl said the 1er was a pig

at nearly 3500lbs, whats the use of sacrificing a rear seat and cabin space if it still weighs more b/c of the damn retractable hardtop

wtf, I thought this thing would be 3100-3200 lbs!

05-05-2009, 12:02 PM	#26
Red Bread Major General 4459 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	People who bemoan that the Boxster is picked over any BMW have clearly never driven a Boxster. BMW doesn't build great two seaters, they never have, they probably never will (I don't need a picture of the M1, it was built by Lamborghini and still wasn't a very special car). There's a little hope for the Z2, but I'm not holding my breath. I do like that the Z3 and Z4 M cars were more raw than the Boxster/Cayman and generally require more skill to drive as quickly, when possible, but magazines tend to tell you which is the better car, and the Porsche's are better. The new, bigger, softer, heavier and cushier Z4 is not going to do well against a lighter, more powerful Boxster/Cayman that nearly every magazine liked more than the last M Z4's.
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05-05-2009, 12:37 PM	#29
erio Captain 58 Rep 807 Posts Drives: e92 JB M3, 2012 GTR Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: GA iTrader: (0)	I have driven the boxter as well. It was nice, but I could never get over the look of that car. I had the impression that the new z4 would at least trump it in terms of handling.
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05-05-2009, 03:18 PM	#33
E82tt6 Colonel 109 Rep 2,626 Posts Drives: '08 Black Saphire Z4 MC Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Not surprised. When BMW announced pricing, it was made clear they were going after the status symbol/fashion statement/hairdresser buyer, as no real enthusiast would buy a car with such terrible bang/buck. __________________ '08 Black Saphire/Black Z4 M Coupe RIP Gretta: Blue Water/Lemon 135i. Died to save me. -ChuckV
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05-09-2009, 11:46 AM	#35
gonzo Lieutenant General 10344 Rep 14,457 Posts Drives: as many as possible Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: TeXXXas iTrader: (0)	Loved it when it was introduced. No more.
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05-09-2009, 04:15 PM	#36
JeepJeep ಠ_ಠ 40 Rep 1,959 Posts Drives: everywhere Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 818 / 805 iTrader: (0)	2 Woman designed it, and I think the target audience they had in mind was middle-aged men going through a mid-life crisis. They just want to show off a little by going fast in a straight line, but want soft and smooth and comfy at the same time. __________________
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